US President George W Bush has insisted that the coalition will not be deflected from its aims in Iraq, despite Monday's devastating bomb attacks in Baghdad.

"We will stay the course," Mr Bush said. "The more successful we are on the ground, the more these killers will react."

Other world leaders also condemned the attacks, vowing that international efforts to rebuild Iraq would continue - though disputes remain about the best way to do so.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said the bombing of the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross was a "crime against humanity".

He urged the authorities in Iraq to bring those responsible to justice, describing the ICRC's neutrality and impartiality as the mainstays of its operation.

Four police stations were also targeted in the attacks, which a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Tony Blair described as "evil and wicked".

"The terrorists and criminals responsible for them are obviously
the enemies of the Iraqi people, inasmuch as they are deliberately
targeting those organisations who are helping to build towards a
free and stable Iraq," he said.

We are very shocked by this terrorist attack because the target
of the attack was the very symbol of humanitarian aid in Iraq

United Nations spokeswoman

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, condemned what he called the heinous string of attacks in Iraq.

"The situation is not very good but I don't think it's going
to get out of control," he told journalists.

The United Nations said the attack on the Red Cross offices in Baghdad was aimed at driving
foreigners out of Iraq.

"We are very shocked by this terrorist attack because the target
of the attack was the very symbol of humanitarian aid in Iraq," said
Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Co-ordination
of Humanitarian Affairs.

"It means that one of the interests of these people is to expel
every foreigner without distinction of mandate."

'Restore sovereignty'

France, a leading opponent of the US-led war that
ousted Saddam Hussein, condemned the attacks but said the way to combat such violence was to
restore sovereignty to the country.

"In the face of such acts of violence, it is more urgent
than ever to embark on a political process, based on the
restoration of Iraqi sovereignty, mobilising all energy
toward the country's reconstruction," Foreign Ministry
spokesman Herve Ladsous said.

Germany, another leading opponent of the war, took a similar line.

Government spokesman Thomas Steg said the attacks were "directed against the interests of the
Iraqi people" but added: "We will have no progress in (Iraq's) internal
stabilisation without a clear political perspective.

"In concrete terms, that means we need as soon as
possible steps to put responsibility for the country in the
hands of the Iraqi people."

A spokesman for the government of Japan, which has pledged $5bn in aid to Iraq, said the
violence would hamper the reconstruction process and have "adverse effects on the
public welfare of the Iraqi people".

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo said: "It is sad that the
restoration of freedom to the Iraqi people continues to be hobbled
by uncertainty."